Lackovic, Schueller and Rismeyer all contributed in reserve roles last season and “are very good athletes who have improved their games,” Bunyan said.

Hauser and Burbach are new varsity additions.

Hauser will be counted on to use his 225-pound frame to bolster the front line. Burbach is a transfer student from Whitefish Bay Dominican who “runs the floor well and has some good skills,” Bunyan said.

Senior Alex Sparr (6-4) is also back with the team but is recovering from a knee injury he sustained in football.

“We lost quite a bit to graduation,” he said, noting that Gasser and Steinmetz provided about half of the Pirates’ scoring last season. “But this can be a really good team.

“My biggest concern is that they know they’re good basketball players. I want them to step up and play with confidence.”

With most of its top players back, Germantown is a heavy favorite to repeat as conference champion this season. Bunyan also expects Whitefish Bay, Homestead, Nicolet and Milwaukee Lutheran to have solid teams — along with his own.

“I think the league will be well-balanced,“ he said. “We lost Josh, but a lot of other teams lost their best kids, too.”

The Pirates will open the season with a pair of games this weekend in a holiday tournament at Manitowoc Lincoln High School.

In Friday’s semifinals, Port plays Little Chute at 6 p.m., and Manitowoc plays Oregon. On Saturday, the consolation game is at 6 p.m., followed by the title contest at 7:30 p.m.

THE LEADERSHIP of point guard Sawyer Mosley will be one of the keys to success this season for the Port Washington boys’ basketball team. Photo by Sam Arendt